New environmentally ‘revolutionary’ motor insurer enters UK market

A new “environmentally conscious” app-based motor insurer offering carbon offsetting as part of its cover has entered the UK market. The insurtech’s proposition has been dubbed as “revolutionary” by its insurtech partner Inzura.

The start-up, named Zixty, has been launched by Andy James (pictured), who was previously UK CEO at First Central and chief commercial officer at Kingfisher.

Zixty’s first product offering the UK’s first short-term car insurance with free carbon offsetting launches this month. The launch is aimed at occasional and short-term drivers who want to minimise the environmental impact of their driving.

Zixty claims to be the “first” to build carbon offsetting at the core of its app-based short-term policy, calculating and offsetting the carbon footprint of up to 100 miles of journeys per day.  Its policies are underwritten by a panel of motor insurers including KGM and First Underwriting.

Short term policy cover ranges from 60 minutes to 28 days to cater for the drivers who don’t own a vehicle, either due to cost and/or environmental concerns, and need a choice of cover options for shorter periods.

The app-based technology is provided by insurtech company, Inzura, taking vehicle movement data collected through the app and using machine learning to analyse the data to calculate the CO2 emitted from journeys.

James, CEO of Zixty, said: “The role of the private car in the UK is changing, driven by financial pressure, environmental concerns, and home-working. Although car ownership and usage are declining, the need for access to a car is an imperative for many people - despite a growing awareness of the environmental impact of driving.

"In research conducted by Zixty in July 2022, 72% of respondents aged 21-54 stated that the ability to offset their driven CO2 was important to them, and in England 20% of households don’t own a car or van. Knowing all this, we realised that a consumer need was not being met: the ability to share cars while reducing the impact of this usage on the environment.

“We don’t judge. We don’t preach. And we’re not environmental activists. We simply insure drivers in the modern sharing economy and help them to be environmentally conscious.”

Richard Jelbert, CEO of Inzura, said: “We’re excited to be working with Zixty and to be a part of its revolutionary proposition. They are an ideal customer for us in that they want to use our whole range of tech solutions, and have led the project with tremendous vision.  It’s going to be an exciting future working together.”

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